06/02/2024
About all those Abuse Claims....
Across all of the animal kingdom, it is quite natural to have certain tendencies to be wary of, or have varying degrees of trepidation about new situations, people, perhaps strange animals, and new life routines. Humans certainly have it. Animals in the wild often need it for survival. Domesticated animals have it. But does it mean that all living beings have been abused simply because they find some situation or experience unsettling? Absolutely not, and in fact, most of the time, it is not. But perhaps not surprisingly, there's a constant barrage of pet owners who rapidly rush to that assumption. We've had veterinarians comment on our page that it's currently one of the most frustrating aspects of speaking with pet owners. It's certainly one of the most exasperating comments we hear about greyhounds in particular. To that end, let's begin with a bit of an explanation found in one of the most extensive studies ever undertaken about dog behavior and socialization, and documented in "Genetics and the Social Behaviour of the Dog" by
John Paul Scott and
John L Fuller:
In this book, the authors fully explain the topic of "shyness" or "spookiness" of canines by reminding the reader that the word "shy" is a human language, specific word attached to a set of particular behaviors. In fact, our human language has little to no bearing on the actual experiences of animals in their own pack and own pack language, whether in the wild or within any pack situation. Going back to canine early ancestors, however, can better help explain the way canids do act, interact, and react to their environment.
Within a pack, there are different roles played out amongst themselves in order to preserve, protect, and function. These include being providers, protectors, guards, and leaders. Did you know that the ones we, as humans, label as "shy" actually function as some of the most important members in that pack? They actually often stood/stand "guard" for it, warning the protectors of anything perceived as being amiss or of potential danger. Ever on alert, always anticipating, and possessing a healthy dose of caution to the unfamiliar, their role was, and still is, within the pack, a vital and necessary survival mechanism. The word "shy" doesn't exist within that pack. There is no negativity associated with it. Rather, it is necessary and desirable to its survival.
There are many, many sources available online to research about this topic and also about early socialization for dogs across all breeds. In addition to the source we listed above, we will include a couple more at the end of this article, but here are a few other things to consider if you have had, or are dealing with a "shy" dog or other animal:
-genetics often plays a role in animal behavior, including shyness.
-unfamiliar items such as vacuums, brooms, motorcycles, loud cars, trucks, baseball bats, unfamiliar animals, unfamiliar people, strange clothing, hats, eye glasses, deep voices, facial hair, large stature, etc., doesn't mean any of those things have been abusive to the more trepid animal. It simply means the animal is very in tune to the newness or differences to what they are familiar with, or used to.
-the dog or animal may have been socialized within a family of mostly females, rather than males, even with more girls than boys, or vice versa, although some experts believe the more soft voice, stature, or nature of females tends to be less likely to initiate caution or uncertainty for animals.
Finally, it's important for us humans to stop attaching so many human labels to non human beings. Animals are not human, they are what nature made them: animals. They have their own pack dynamics, their own roles, their own likes, their own needs, and their own genetics that are entirely different than our own. It's time honor those differences and to celebrate them, rather than constantly attempting to force our human thoughts and emotions on them. That's how we learn how to respect them and how to succeed in not only happy coexistence, but to also satisfy the needs and happiness of our most dear four-legged companions. While we, nor anyone we know, would proclaim "there's no abuse anywhere, ever" it should be a wonderful relief to realize that like priests, teachers, doctors, etc., in their own professions, MOST breeders, trainers, and most people in any animal related work or sport really do love what they do and take pride in the results of their efforts, and love the animals and their specific breeds passionately. Understanding ALL of the possibilities and facts are key to becoming the best we can be for our animals. After all, what type of individual wouldn't feel relief that their pet HASN'T been abused?
Additional sources:
https://www.dogbehaviorblog.com/2009/05/it-doesnt-mean-shes-been-abused.html
For Greyhound specific research, Dennis McKeon is a world renouned author of many articles about greyhounds. His experience spans breed history, and a former trainer of innumerable greyhounds of all personalities. Some of his articles are listed below:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157596452416829&id=692691828&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157450404696829&id=692691828&mibextid=Nif5oz
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10159121428981829&id=692691828&mibextid=Nif5oz
